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Category: A New Test for Synthetic Drugs

In Washington DC, pre trial services announced that as a result of a pilot program a decision has been made to purchase and use a new machine that will test for the presence of synthetic drugs like Bizarro, Scooby Snax and K2. In the past, because of the cost of the machine when people were on pre trial release or probation the machines tested for only actual cannabinoids. That has all changed. This came about as a result of a study where urine samples given by people on probation were retested with the new machine. The new test revealed that 50% of the people tested for actual cannabinoids that came up clean, when retested, came up dirty for the synthetics. That machine is now available to other law enforcement agencies and will be in use soon.
What this means is that if you are on probation in Ft. Myers or Sarasota, it may no longer be safe to assume that if you use the synthetics you are safe and will test clean. The new test costs the state only about $3.50 per test. I expect to see an increase in the number of probation violations over the next year. The bottom line is that if you continue to use, even the synthetics, you are at risk of aprobation violation arrest. The real problem is going to be for the people on pre trial release.

A positive for a synthetic can result in your arrest and return to jail for a violation of the terms of your release.If you are on probation and still use, you are running a risk of being picked up on a violation and will have to sit in jail until a probation violation hearing weeks later. I know it is tough if you have been smoking weed for years, but if you catch a break and get probation, don’t screw it up by using even a synthetic. Many of the employers who routinely screen employees for drugs can now test for the synthetics for just $3.50. It would be a shame to lose a good job in this market for smoking a synthetic.